Todo Concostrina – "Acontece que no es poco"

Episode: Octubre de 1833: Borbones, a guantazos entre ellos y todos contra la Constitución. Los sucesos de La Granja
Date: October 8, 2025
Host: Nieves Concostrina
Podcast: SER Podcast

Overview

In this episode, Nieves Concostrina takes listeners back to one of the most turbulent periods of Spanish history, focusing on the "Sucesos de La Granja" in August 1836 (corrected from 1833), where the Bourbon royal family clashed internally and collectively resisted constitutional reforms. With her characteristic irreverence and biting humor, Concostrina explains how the confrontation between royalists, liberals, and absolutists set Spain on a path of dramatic political change, culminating in the restoration of the 1812 Constitution.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: Spain in the 1830s

• Bourbon Chaos: The episode opens with the classic verb "borbonear"—to act like a Bourbon—reflecting the family's penchant for political mischief and dysfunction (00:28).

• Succession Crisis: After the death of Fernando VII, his daughter Isabel II is proclaimed queen, but her uncle Carlos María Isidro also declares himself king, igniting the Carlist Wars (01:06).

  "Primero porque inmediatamente el tío de la niña, Carlos María Isidro, también se proclamó rey. Dijo él, Viva yo que soy Carlos V, a mi sobrina no le hagáis ni caso."
  – Nieves Concostrina (01:06)

• A Queen Regnant's Dilemma: Isabel’s mother, María Cristina de Borbón, is the Regent. She distrusts both her brother-in-law Carlos (the Carlist claimant) and the liberal politicians supporting her daughter's reign, all while fiercely resisting any constitutional limits to royal power (01:29-02:11).

  "A los Borbones las constituciones les provocan sarpullidos."
  – Nieves Concostrina (01:46)

2. The First Carlist War and the Failed Uprising

• Outbreak of War: The formal start of the Carlist War occurs in October 1833 when Carlos V issues a manifesto from Portugal and is proclaimed king in various regions of Spain (02:13).

  • Key event: The first uprising in Talavera de la Reina, led by Manuel María González, ends in failure and swift execution:

    "Él creía que por puto defender España. Yo creo que por gilipollas."
    – Nieves Concostrina (03:05)

3. Satirical Digression: The "Gilipollas" Song

• The episode humorously digresses with a comedic riff on the Spanish word "gilipollas" (roughly: idiot), tying historical folly to common modern blunders (03:24-04:04).

4. The Build-up to La Granja: Absolutist Resistance

• María Cristina's Stubbornness: Despite growing unrest, the regent is convinced the Spanish people will ultimately acquiesce to royal authority and that she can suppress liberal demands for a return to the 1812 Constitution (04:18-06:12).
• France’s Reluctance: María Cristina’s repeated pleas for military assistance from French King Louis Philippe I are met with empty diplomatic support, not intervention (06:41).

5. The Sucesos de La Granja (August 1836)

• Origins of the Revolt: Disillusioned sargentos (sergeants) at the La Granja royal palace mutiny while their superior officers are away, some inspired spontaneously and others prodded by Madrid liberals owed back pay (06:41-08:10).

  "Unos dicen que se sublevaron de forma espontánea porque venían muy mosqueados de luchar contra los carlistas... Otros dicen que los animaron los liberales desde Madrid recordándoles que se les debían tres meses de paga."
  – Nieves Concostrina (07:11)

• The Liberals’ Anthem: The uprising is signaled with the playing of the Himno de Riego, symbolizing the troops’ liberal leanings (08:10).

• Confrontation with the Queen: The mutiny brings tensions inside the palace to a boil:

  • The sergeants boldly present demands for the restoration of the Constitution, initially dismissed with ridicule and arrogance by María Cristina and her advisors (09:07-09:57).
  • When threatened, the queen capitulates, issuing a decree to reinstate the 1812 Constitution (10:21).

  "Fue tan chulesco aquel encuentro... que cuando se transmitió la respuesta a la tropa, la tropa de pensárselo nada. Entráis otra vez y le decís o publica y jura la Constitución o las cosas se van a poner chungas para ella y para sus hijas."
  – Nieves Concostrina (09:48)

  "En la madrugada del 13 de agosto de 1836, María Cristina de Borbón rebajó la chulería, vio peligrar su vida y firmó un decreto (...) que se publique la Constitución política del año 1812."
  – Nieves Concostrina (10:34)

6. Aftermath and Larger Impact

• No Guarantee of Peace: Although forced, the restoration of the Constitution does not resolve Spain’s deep divisions; the country remains in turmoil, both from open war and internal conspiracies (10:39-10:48).

• A Point of No Return: Despite ongoing infighting and resistance from the Bourbon camp, this moment marks a "point of inflection"—demolishing the old order and beginning a push for civil rights and freedom (10:48-12:32).

  "El error de la política progresista en este país ha sido y sigue siendo mantener al Borbón enemigo dentro del sistema. Porque siempre van a ir contra el sistema."
  – Nieves Concostrina (10:54)

  "Durante los siguientes meses tras los sucesos de La Granja (...) toda la estructura jurídica y política del Antiguo Régimen fue desmantelada..."
  – Nieves Concostrina citando a Isabel Burdiel (11:48)

• Broader Historical Reflection: Concostrina closes by noting how these reforms sparked ongoing instability, revolutions, and eventual expulsions of the Bourbons—a dramatic transformation summed up by Alfonso Guerra’s famous remark:

  "España no la iba a conocer ya ni la madre que la parió."
  – Alfonso Guerra, citado por Nieves Concostrina (12:52)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "A los Borbones las constituciones les provocan sarpullidos." (01:46)
• "El error de la política progresista en este país ha sido y sigue siendo mantener al Borbón enemigo dentro del sistema." (10:54)
• "Fue tan chulesco aquel encuentro... o publica y jura la Constitución o las cosas se van a poner chungas." (09:48)
• "Toda la estructura jurídica y política del Antiguo Régimen fue desmantelada..." (11:48)
• "España no la iba a conocer ya ni la madre que la parió." (12:52)

Key Timestamps

• 01:06 – Proclamation crisis after Fernando VII’s death
• 02:13 – Start of the First Carlist War
• 03:05 – Execution of the failed uprising leader
• 06:41 – France's refusal to intervene
• 07:11 – Mutiny of the La Granja sergeants
• 08:10 – Sounding of the Himno de Riego
• 09:48-10:21 – Queen María Cristina capitulates and restores the Constitution
• 11:48 – Overview of revolutionary reforms and the beginning of modern Spain

Tone and Style

The episode is delivered in Nieves Concostrina's incisive, sardonic style, mixing in colloquial humor, pointed political commentary, and vivid metaphors, making complex historical events both accessible and entertaining.

For those who missed the episode:
This summary covers the heated struggles within the Bourbon monarchy, the rise of liberalism against absolutism, the pivotal mutiny at La Granja, and how Spain's 19th-century revolutions set the stage for a new constitutional era. It’s an essential listen for anyone interested in the dramatic twists and turns of Spanish history—served with Concostrina's uniquely sharp wit.